An overview of research on the beneficial effects of vegetation in contaminated soil.
Vegetation can enhance in situ bioremediation processes in many applications. Microbial transformations occur in soil and water external to plant roots. Organic contaminants also enter vegetation and are transformed within plants. Research progress is reviewed with emphasis on recent experimental results and mathematical models of contaminant fate in systems where vegetation is present. Plant evapotranspiration provides a solar driven pump-and-treat system which moves contaminants to the rhizosphere and helps to contain them on site. Significant savings have been reported at several field sites where vegetation has been utilized.
Erickson
L E
LE
Department of Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-5102, USA.
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004058:Diffusion; D008954:Models, Biological; D018526:Plant Transpiration; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014197:Trees / Q000378:metabolism
D012989:Soil Pollutants